1. IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOU TO REMEMBER
( a calendar by the Dominican Commission of Justice and Pease for Asia and the Pacific.)

12th Jan.National Youth Day
27th Jan.Anti-Leprosy Day
30th Jan.Peace Day (Martyrs Day)
11th Feb.International Day for the Sick
8th MarchInternational Women's Day
12th MarchWorld Day for the Disabled
15th MarchWorld Consumers Day
21st MarchWorld Day against Racism
4th AprilAnti-Child Prostitution Day
6th AprilChernobyl Day
7th AprilWorld Health Day
22nd AprilEarth Day
24th AprilWorld Children's Day
27th AprilNo-Golf Day
1st MayWorkers Day/ Labour Day
21st MayWorld Forest Day
15th MayInternational Day of the Family
31st MayNo Tobacco Day
5th JuneWorld Envionment Day
26th JuneAnti-Drug Day
1st JulyWorld Population Day
6th Aug.Hiroshima Day
9th Aug.Nagasaki Day
8th Sept.International Literacy Day
11th Sept.World Brotherhood Day
27th Sept.World Tourism Day
2nd Oct.World Day for the Aged
3rd Oct.World Habitat Day
16th Oct.World Food Day
3rd Nov.Justice Day (St. Martin De Porres)
14th Nov.India: Children's Day
1st Dec.World Aids Day
3rd Dec.Bhopal Day
10th Dec.Human Rights Day

This timetable can enable us to celebrate liturgies with a thematic dimension expressed in the collects or in the texts of the Office of Readings or in the homilies... Para-liturgies could also be devised, with a more distinct orientation towards and event celebrated on the day.

2. A RETREAT:

-Blessed are the Just!.
(based on a proposal from the CCFD, France)

- reading and meditation on the first account of the Creation (Gn 1:1 -31)
It is suggested to ponder over the fair distribution of the goods of Creation between human beings and over everyone's access to these goods. Do our lifestyles, our ways of preaching and getting involved foster progress towards more justice?

- reading and meditation on the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12)
It is suggested to ponder over our hunger and thirst for justice. What dynamics do they rely upon?

- reading and meditation on the ways sharing is practiced in the Book of Acts (2:42-47 and 4:82-85)
Are we driven by the concern that nobody should be in need? Do we care about sharing? Do we believe there is some worth in the pooling of goods?

- Reading and meditation on the reception of faith (Eph 1:15-17 and 2:1-22)
All human beings are called upon to be sons and daughters of God. Are we concerned that each human being is our brother or sister and that he or she is loved by God on the same grounds as us?

- Reading and meditation on the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46)
Where do we stand? What is our way of looking at our individual and community practices? Our socio-economic and political options?

This time of retreat is not an opportunity for us to feel guilty but to face our responsibilities as disciples of Christ and to "adhere" anew to the demands of our faith.

3. EVENING PRAYER on "justice and equality for women":
(a proposal from brothers and sisters from India)

4. LITURGY for the Day of Human Rights (10th December) in Nagpur

Life is God's gift to us which has to be nurtured and shared with our fellow men and women, be it in our own communities or in society. As Jesus spoke the language of love, justice, freedom and sharing and gave His life for all, so also should His followers.

- Penitential rite: it is suggested to use "Parabolas and Fables" ( by P. Ribes, sj) or any other symbolical or allegorical story. After reading a text of this kind, the celebrant introduces a few questions in order for everyone to start reviewing their own lives. This part ends with a hymn.

- Opening prayer: God our father, here is your footstool and here rest your feet where live the poorest, the lowliest and lost. When we try to go out to you our obeisance cannot reach down to the depths where your feet rest. Pride can never approach to where you walk in the midst of the downtrodden. Our heart can never find its way to where you keep company with the companionless. Make us worthy, we pray, by your Spirit, that we may reach out to those who need our assistance...

- Scriptural Readings: (You may select any of the readings given below)
Ecci.4:7-11; Is. 49:15-18; Jn. 10:11-17; I Cor.: 3:9, 16-17; Lk.4: 16-21; James 2:2-9.

- Offertory prayer: God our loving Father, we offer you these gifts, bread and wine signifying the sufferings of our fellow men, the poor, the women, the children, the aged, the disabled and those who are deprived of a life of respect, dignity, freedom and justice. Accept these gifts we pray that your Spirit may rest in all men, that all may learn to share the life you have gifted...

- Eucharistic prayer: Almighty God, We praise and bless you because you are a God of freedom and human dignity. You created us among all other creatures and gave us this earthly paradise to enjoy.

Instead, we chose the forbidden fruit of sin but you did not abandon us, and again offered freedom and dignity through your love.

We bless you, God, that you remained mindful of your promise to Abraham and Sarah. You bade Moses to lead Israel out of the slavery of Egypt. He led your nation through the Red Sea and Sinai desert to a new land of freedom and dignity, a land flowing with milk and honey;

We praise you, God, mother and father of all your prophets who, countless times, urged your people to break the chain of idolatry to foreign gods. You constantly call us from submission to images of stone which cannot hear or understand, to growth in your spirit of love and so with hearts full of confidence we join your holy people, who stand in the freedom of your presence and sing to you the ancient hymn of holiness and glory: Holy. Holy. Holy Lord...

Loving God you are the source of all holiness you call us to live in the light and freedom and dignity of your spirit. In our need of liberation you sent your Son to be the way the truth and the life. He freed us from our divisions by inviting us to love our neighbour He liberated us from our selfishness by encouraging us to give freely of what we have freely received; our talents, our riches, our time.

Dear God we remember your Son's great sign of love for us. On the night...

Creator, we call to mind the life, death, resurrection and return to your glory of our saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. In the spirit of His perfect worship to you join us in his praise as we surrender our lives to you through this bread of life and cup of covenant.

Let us now proclaim our mystery of faith. Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.

We ask you God to send your spirit upon us so that we who are nourished at your table may witness in love to the needs of our neighbours. Help us to grow in the human dignity and rights of the children of God so that we may not be chained to status, honour or money.

May we imitate the life of your Son by freeing ourselves and others from the bondage of oppression and injustice.

As you welcome all peoples into your kingdom so may we see the dignity of your reflection in everyone we meet. May your Holy Spirit rule our governments and especially our homes and hearts.

We make our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ who is the liberator of the world. Through Him...

(Courtesy John Alossi sj)

- Prayer after communion: Heavenly Father as we have received the body and blood or your Son, may it make us worthy to serve our fellow men and women throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger, and where the rights of human being are not respected and upheld. Give them by your hands this day, their daily bread and by our understanding, love, peace and joy that they may enjoy equal rights and dignity with their fellow men and women. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord...

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